No reason inparticular, it's just that I've read reviews where the reviewer has preferred the NAD amps over the Rotel amps, and my local audio guy told me he stocks NAD over Rotel gear because for the same price he thinks the NAD sound is better. My personal preference, is that the Rotel gear looks really cool, but the NAD gear has kind of a tough guy, "I don't care what I look like cause I know I'm a bad a$$" look to it.

I still hear that Rotel makes excellent products and if I were to get a great deal on Rotel gear I'd probably jump on it (supposing I was in a monetary position to do so) it's just that personally, I would take a chance on NAD gear.

thanks. I too like the no-nonsense look of NAD gear. But those black Rotel's look pretty cool too (plus they would match my Integra CD/DVD player perfectly). The Halo looks dam sexy in an entirely different way. I don't like the look of the classic parasound stuff. But enough on cosmetics, I'm trying real hard to stop the impulse of buying that Rotel gear on Audiogon......this is gunna be tough...damit…..I….can…..resist….

I had looked at the HK receiver, and separates. My 7200 is rated at 100 WPC and it certainly plays the 80’s louder than I can tolerate, but I’ve heard from too many folks, too many times how the 80’s really wake up when you put about 200 wpc to them. I’ve just got to try it! The only reason my minimum is 150 wpc, is because I didn’t want to prematurely rule out the NAD gear.

Does anyone know where I can buy Rotel and NAD on line, or anywhere that I can call and get pricing. I’m not afraid of B stock or refurbished as long as it has a warrantee.

………so much for waiting…..I just know I’m gunna buy something, real soon. This place has a horrible influence on me…….

I bought an amp from Audiogon, it's the one I am now using to power my M80's. It's an Aragon 4004, 2x 200w, works great with the M80's. I paid $600 for it. I have a couple of friends that buy a lot of stuff from Audiogon, no problems at all.

Well, we are at an impasse’ with the second hand Rotel gear. Plus, the local Rotel dealer wont budge on price and sells at MSRP only. That’s just against my principles so I’m about to pull the trigger on the NAD separates.

Anyone have any last words on this? What kind of SQ difference should I get going from my HK / 100 wpc to NAD / 150 wpc?? If anything changes, my hope is that they will be less forward than they are now.

Plus, the local Rotel dealer wont budge on price and sells at MSRP only.

Uh huh, same thing I was told whenever I bought my Rotel gear, conversation went something like this...'OK, give me the best price you have to offer' the reply was 'That is the ONLY price', oh well I forked over the money and have been very happy with my decision to take the Rotel stuff.

But.....

A million people will have three million opinions regarding just about anything in life, so I can only speak for myself.

Mike, I know that you wrote that you've "just got to try it!", but you've also invited "last words" and want to know what "SQ difference" you should get. Factually, you should get none. You've already reported that your 7200 drives your M80s louder than you can tolerate. The difference between 100 and 150 watts in maximum loudness is only about 1.8dB. Note also that the HK rating is somewhat conservative and that continuous power into 4ohms is likely on the order of 200 watts. The two channels of the 3480 are essentially similar to the channels of the 7200 and would provide equally transparent amplification. Your M80s are already wide awake from what you report, so spending money on unused amp headroom isn't necessary to remedy a non-existant slumber.